Dissociation by colchicine of the wet weight and the cGMP responses to estradiol in immature rat uterus

We previously reported on a positive correlation between two effects of estrogen on rat uterus, namely the early increases in cGMP and in water content of the organ suggesting that they were under the control of the same hormone sensitive regulatory process or linked by a cause to effect relationship. Up to now we were unable to find experimental conditions that would dissociate the two responses. In this work, immature Wistar rats were treated with colchicine (50 micrograms/animal) given at the same time as estradiol-17 beta (1 microgram/animal) or with estradiol alone. The experiments showed: (1) that the estradiol induced increase in uterine wet weight that occurs during the first 8 h after hormone injection was completely suppressed in the presence of colchicine indicating that it might depend on an intact microtubular system and (2) that, by contrast, the estrogen-induced increase in uterine cGMP remained unaffected by the colchicine presence. These data allow to conclude that the cGMP response to estradiol can be dissociated from the wet weight response and, therefore, that it is not controlled by the latter. From this and from data in the literature the hypothesis is proposed that the increase in uterine cGMP content might trigger the wet weight response, this possibly through a positive action on some microtubular function.     

Changes in cGMP and cAMP content in the estrogen-stimulated rat uterus: temporal relationship with other parameters of hormonal stimulation.

The effect of estradiol-17beta, estriol, diethylstilbestrol and nafoxidine on rat uterine cGMP content was studied in relation with their respective estrogenic potency. Confirming previous results from Kuehl et al. (5), we observed a rise in uterine cGMP and a simultaneous decrease in cAMP content in treated animals. The reverse effect was obtained in the vagina after stimulation with estradiol or estriol. In the uterus, all compounds tested induced two main waves of cGMP increase corresponding to the two main phases of the estrogenic response i.e. the early fluid imbibition and the later period of true growth. No direct relationship could be established between the late rise in cGMP and true growth responses. A causal link between the first accumulation of uterine cGMP and the wet weight response in the early phase of estrogenic action is suggested by the comparison of time-course effects of the different compounds used on those two parameters.     

Response of the mouse uterus to nafoxidine stimulation: agonism and antagonism

Nafoxidine (NAF) acts as an estrogen agonist or antagonist depending on the animal model used. In the CD-1 mouse uterus, a three-day uterine bioassay of NAF produced a bell-shaped dose response curve with a maximal uterine wet weight increase at 200 micrograms/kg; this dose produced only a fractional increase in uterine dry weight. Combination treatment with NAF and estradiol antagonized estradiol stimulation of both wet and dry weight parameters. The time course of uterine wet weight stimulation following a single injection of NAF had an early pattern (0-10 h) similar to that of estradiol. However, at later times after stimulation, the patterns changed dramatically: the low NAF dose (200 micrograms/kg) returned to control levels by 24 h; estradiol and the high dose NAF (1.7 mg/kg) showed sustained stimulation, which peaked at 36 h with NAF compared to 24 h for estradiol. Nuclear estrogen receptor (ER) levels were measured after a single injection of 1.7 mg/kg NAF and showed a bimodal pattern similar to that seen with estradiol, with increases at 1 h and 8 h, although the overall ER levels were elevated above those seen with estradiol. Cytosolic ER levels with NAF decreased by 1 h and remained low up to 48 h. NAF treatment did stimulate uterine DNA and RNA synthesis, with a delayed time course compared to estradiol. DNA synthesis following a single 1.7 mg/kg dose of NAF was 2.5 times higher than that produced by 20 micrograms/kg estradiol. NAF treatment resulted in hypertrophy and hyperplasia in the luminal epithelium but not in the glandular epithelium. Long-term exposure to estradiol for 5 wk resulted in development of uterine cystic glandular hyperplasia and increased secretory activity; long-term exposure to NAF produced a more significant tissue hyperplasia but no secretions. These studies show that NAF stimulates some of the receptor-mediated responses attributed to an estrogen agonist in the mouse uterus; but, when co-administered with estradiol, NAF antagonizes some aspects of estrogen action.     

Discrete early changes in cellular subpopulations of rat uterine and anterior pituitary estrogen receptors in response to acute exposure to exogenous estradiol

Distribution of estrogen receptors among ligand-occupied and unoccupied species in cytosolic and nuclear subcellular compartments has been analyzed as an acute response to administration of 5 micrograms of estradiol in adult female rats. Patterns of anterior pituitary and uterine receptor turnover were monitored at intervals over a 5-h period, using either intact or 2-weeks ovariectomized animals. In terms of total cellular receptor content, initial levels were higher in castrate animals, but rapidly fell to intact levels within an hour following estradiol injection. Cycloheximide given shortly before estradiol had no effect on total pituitary receptor patterns, but appeared to result in an elevation in total uterine receptor content at early intervals. Unoccupied cytosol receptors were rapidly depleted and, with the exception of castrate pituitary samples, showed some replenishment within 5 h, all of which was cycloheximide-sensitive. Initially, occupied cytosol receptors were low in intact rats, but were present at levels approaching those of the unoccupied cytosol receptor forms in the ovariectomized rat tissues. Occupied cytosol receptor levels fluctuated in response to estradiol. Subpopulations of nuclear receptors, especially the unoccupied species, showed significant tissue specificity. In the uterus, unoccupied nuclear forms were initially present in high amounts, and the levels did not change in response to estradiol administration. In the pituitary, the levels of these receptors rose and subsequently fell over the 5-h interval. Cycloheximide conferred a similar biphasic response to estradiol upon the otherwise insensitive unoccupied nuclear forms of the uterus. Occupied nuclear receptors turned over completely during the 5-h study interval, with the kinetics being faster in the castrate than the intact tissues. Cycloheximide affected occupied nuclear forms of the uterus only, dramatically increasing their levels in response to estrogen and causing prolonged retention in the castrate animal model. Collectively, the cycloheximide effects on this system are consistent with early estrogen induction or stimulation of a protein which inhibits accumulation of occupied or unoccupied receptor species within the nucleus. This re-examination of all forms of cellular estrogen receptors as they fluctuate acutely in response to exogenous estrogen has revealed several heretofore undetected responses which must be incorporated into the overall scheme of early estrogen action.     

Dynamic Studies on Estrogen Response in Fetal Guinea Pig Uterus: Effect of Estradiol Administration on Estradiol Receptor,Progesterone Receptor and Uterine Growth

Abstract

The uterus of the guinea pig fetus has been shown to respond to estradiol treatment by an increase in uterine wet weight and a stimulation of the progesterone receptor protein. A study of the kinetics of these two parameters of estrogen response in the fetal uterus was undertaken in order to correlate these responses with changes in the estrogen receptor. Administration of estradiol to pregnant guinea pigs (1 mg/kg/body weight) leads to a rapid stimulation of the progesterone receptor by 6h after treatment which reaches maximal values by 15.5h, which are increased 7-fold in estradiol-primed guinea pigs above values in untreated animals. The estradiol receptor undergoes rapid translocation from the cytosol into the nucleus by 1h after hormone treatment and is retained in the nucleus for at least 6h. At the same time, there is a 50% decrease in the total occupied and available estradiol receptor concentration at 6h after treatment. Estradiol treatment also provokes an increase in wet weight of the fetal uterus which is significantly greater after 3 consecutive days of treatment (171% ± 24 (S.D.) above wet weights of untreated uteri which were considered as 100%) than after only 1 day (121% ± 25 (S.D.)). These estrogen responses were found to be of long duration since uterine wet weights and progesterone receptor concentrations remained well above control values even 5 days after a single treatment with estradiol. In conclusion, the fetal uterus responds to estradiol treatment by a slow increase in wet weight and a rapid stimulation of the progesterone receptor protein with a concomitant loss in estradiol receptor concentration.     

Effect of estradiol and progesterone on phosphatidylinositol metabolism in the uterine epithelium of the mouse

The effect of estradiol and progesterone on uterine phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) metabolism was examined in whole uteri and separated uterine luminal epithelium of ovariectomized mice. Incorporation of [3H]myo-inositol in vitro, into inositol-containing phospholipids extracted from whole uteri, increased in mice injected with estradiol, with maximal incorporation at 9-12 h. The breakdown of PtdIns to inositol polyphosphates was also stimulated in whole uteri by estrogen, with an abrupt increase between 6 and 9 h. Comparable increases in both processes occurred in the uterine epithelium after estrogen stimulation and were inhibited by progesterone pretreatment which by itself had little or no effect. These results suggest that PtdIns metabolism is involved in the stimulation of uterine epithelial cell proliferation by estrogens, and its inhibition by progesterone.     

Changes in uterine estrogen receptor concentrations in persistent estrous and persistent diestrous rats

Changes in uterine weight and the estrogen receptor concentrations were examined in persistent estrous (PE) and persistent diestrous (PD) rats at 80 days of age. To prepare PE rats, 100 micrograms estradiol benzoate (EB) was injected sc into 3-day-old females. PD rats were obtained by daily injections of 10 micrograms EB into females for 10 consecutive days from the day of birth. The uterine weight in PE rats at 80 days was comparable to that in metestrous controls. The uteri of PD rats were smaller than those in PE rats. The concentrations of estrogen receptor in nuclear fractions in PE and PD rats were much lower than those in proestrous controls. Receptor concentrations in cytosol fractions were significantly lower in PE and PD rats than in control diestrous, proestrous and estrous rats. The dissociation constants and sedimentation coefficients of estrogen receptors in PE and PD rats were found to be in the same range as those in control rats. Thus, the reduction in the activity of cytosol receptors in these rats is attributable to a quantitative change in the amount of estrogen receptor protein. To study the response of the uterus to estrogen, ovariectomized rats were injected daily with 10 micrograms estradiol for 7 consecutive days. The uterine growth of PE and PD rats after administration of estradiol was less marked than in controls, indicating a reduction of estrogen sensitivity of the uterus. Seven daily administrations of estradiol continued to increase the concentration of uterine cytosol estrogen receptor in controls. In contrast, in PE and PD rats, the receptor concentrations continued to increase during the first 3 days, and then remained constant. These data suggest that EB in neonatal treatment may directly affect the mechanism of receptor synthesis in uterine tissues. This effect may contribute to the reduction of the uterine response to estrogen.     

Pregnancy-stimulated growth of vascular smooth muscle cells: Importance of protein kinase C-dependent synergy between estrogen and platelet-derived growth factor

Dramatic smooth muscle cell (SMC) growth occurs in the uterine artery during pregnancy. The potential for pregnancy-associated growth may also exist at other vascular sites. We tested the hypothesis that increased growth of uterine artery SMC isolated from pregnant (vs. nonpregnant) guinea pigs would be detectable in culture, that pregnancy-associated phenotypic changes would also be found in nonuterine vascular cells (aortic SMC), and that the enhanced growth would be dependent on estrogen, peptide growth factors like platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and protein kinase C (PKC). Growth responses were measured by [³H]-thymidine incorporation and cell counts. Uterine artery SMC from pregnant guinea pigs grew to a higher plateau density with serum stimulation, had increased spontaneous DNA synthesis and persistent growth following serum withdrawal, and were more responsive to 3–30 ng/ml PDGF-BB than nonpregnant cells. Aortic SMC from pregnant animals also grew to a higher plateau density and had enhanced responsiveness to PDGF-BB. This increased response to PDGF-BB by pregnant uterine artery and aortic SMC (40–233% increase over nonpregnant PDGF result) was reproduced in nonpregnant cells by pretreatment for 1–24 h with 17-beta(β)-estradiol (30–100 nM). Neither the pregnancy-induced difference nor the estradiol pretreatment was associated with increased PDGF-BB binding activity. The synergistic effect of 17β-estradiol was partially (62%) reproduced with 17-alpha(α)-estradiol, an isomer which does not bind the estrogen receptor. This suggested that 17β-estradiol modulates the PDGF-BB response by both estrogen-receptor- and nonreceptor-mediated mechanisms. To test if the estrogen effects were dependent on PKC, two different antagonist strategies (3 μM dihydrosphingosine and phorbol-ester-induced downregulation) were applied prior to 17α- or β-estradiol and blocked the enhanced responses to PDGF. The synergistic effect of 17β-estradiol on PDGF was then reproduced by 1 h pretreatment with the cell-permeable PKC activator, 10 nM PMA. We conclude that pregnancy stimulates increased growth of uterine and aortic SMC in vitro which is dependent on estrogen, PDGF, and PKC and may be important in vascular remodeling during pregnancy. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effect of prostacyclin inhibition by tranylcypromine on uterine 6-keto-pgf 1 alpha levels during estrogen hyperemia in rats

A role for prostacyclin (PGI2) as a mediator of estrogen-induced increases in uterine blood volume (UBV) was investigated by measuring uterine tissue levels of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF 1 alpha), and testing estrogen responses in rats pretreated with the PGI2 synthesis inhibitor, tranylcypromine (TCP). Uterine 6-keto-PGF1 alpha content was determined by radioimmunoassay of tissue extracts purified through the use of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Estrogen treatment of castrate rats resulted in a significant increase of uterine 6-keto-PGF 1 alpha was compared to saline treated controls (9.3 ng/uterine horn vs 6.7 ng/uterine horn, p=0.01). Pretreatment with TCP (20 mg/kg) markedly reduced the uterine content of 6-keto-PGF 1 alpha (2.5 ng/uterine horn). The typical 50% increase in UBV observed after estrogen was unaffected by tranylcypromine pretreatment. It was concluded that the increased PGI2 synthesis, as indicated by elevated levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, may function as an amplifying mechanism for the uterine vasodilation-induced by estrogen in castrate rats, but that production of this prostanoid is not essential for the estrogen response.     

Diethylstilbestrol metabolites and analogs. Biochemical probes for differential stimulation of uterine estrogen responses

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) and certain chemically structural derivatives and analogs, indenestrol A (IA), indenestrol B (IB), indanestrol (IN), and pseudo-DES (PD), have been used as probes to examine various estrogenic responses previously considered interrelated and obligatory to the stimulation of uterine growth. All the analogs had poor uterotropic activity in vivo which ranged from 10-200 times less than that of estradiol or DES. The poor uterotropic activity was not due to poor binding affinity for the receptor. All compounds except IN interacted with the mouse uterine estrogen receptor with high affinity (approximately Ka 1.5-2.2 X 10(10) M-1). In addition, the compounds were able to translocate similar levels of receptor to the nucleus in vivo. Nuclear retention and occupancy of the estrogen receptor by the compounds was comparable to the patterns produced by DES or estradiol. The activity of uterine tissue responses was investigated during treatment with the compounds. Only IA stimulated uterine glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase to significant levels similar to DES or estradiol. Uterine progesterone receptor was induced to varying degrees by all compounds; the indenestrol isomers (IA and IB) were the most active. Uterine DNA synthesis was marginally stimulated by the derivatives and analogs except for IB which showed a response increase comparable to DES or estradiol. Because of the differential stimulation, these data suggest that in uterine tissue estrogen receptor stimulates certain biochemical responses independently and not in concert. The ability of a particular response to be increased may depend on the chemical nature of the ligand receptor complex and its interaction at genomic sites.     

The relationship between ovarian steroids and uterine estrogen receptors during late pregnancy

Although a direct interdependence exists between the ovarian steroids, estrogen and progesterone, the exact role of these two hormones during pregnancy, especially late pregnancy, is not completely understood. Investigations have been conducted to determine whether the circulating levels of progesterone and estrogen or changes in the ratio of progesterone/estrogen in relation to the concentration of uterine estrogen receptors are associated with triggering parturition. Ninety-day old female rats were sacrificed at gestation days 14, 16, 18, 20 and two days post-partum. The plasma levels of estradiol and progesterone were measured by solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Uterine cytosol was subjected to a charcoal binding assay to determine the concentration of estrogen receptors. Our findings demonstrate that there is a significant (p less than 0.05) drop in both plasma progesterone and estradiol during late pregnancy. Also indicated is a significant (p less than 0.05) increase in uterine estrogen receptors throughout late pregnancy. Finally, during this period there is a direct correlation between the shift in the progesterone/estrogen ratio and the increase in the concentration of uterine estrogen receptors in late pregnancy.     

The effects of acute administration of cytotoxic anticancer agents on the capacity for subsequent hormonal responses in the mouse uterus

The mouse uterus has been used as a model system with which to examine the interaction of anticancer agents with steroid hormone receptors and to evaluate the effect of a single exposure to a cytotoxic anticancer agent on the subsequent elicitation of the uterotrophic response to estradiol. The uterotrophic response was interpreted in terms of the induction of progesterone receptors, uterine weight gain and increased uterine DNA content. Evaluation of 34 cytotoxic agents selected for this study provided little evidence to substantiate the interaction of these agents with estrogen or progesterone receptors. Although prior treatment with certain cytotoxic agents partially inhibited the subsequent responses to estradiol, some capacity to respond to estradiol was always retained. The majority of cytotoxic agents had little impact on the capacity to respond to estradiol. Thus, in these studies where high sublethal concentrations of cytotoxic agents were administered prior to estradiol, there was no indication that the mechanisms regulating subsequent hormonal responses were compromised.     

The rat uterine oestrogen receptor in relation to intra-uterine devices and the oestrous cycle [proceedings

There are changes in the nuclear content of the estrogen receptor in the rat uterus during the estrous cycle that are associated with changes in its physiology. The changes correlate with the concentrations of circulating estradiol. It appears that uterotrophic response to estradiol is a function of the nuclear receptor. The insertion of an IUD leads to changes in the treated uterine horn which appear to be the result of an increased responsitivity to circulating estradiol. The presence of an IUD did not alter the estrous cycle, gonadotropin, or corpus luteum function. The intracellular distribution of the estrogen receptor was investigated in normal uterine horns and in the horns with devices throughout the estrous cycle. Groups of 30 Wistar rats had a silk suture fitted in the lumen of 1 uterine horn. After 14 days the progress of these estrous cycles was determined. Rats were grouped according to the stage of the cycle on the 4th day. Rats were then killed and the uteri removed. Cytosol receptors were measured. The capacity of the cytosol estrogen receptor to bind to oligo(dT)-cellulose was determined. Cytosol protein, nuclear protein, and DNA were measured. At all stages of the estrous cycle, the wet weight and cytosol receptor of the treated horns were greater than the control horns. A slight increase in the capacity of cytosol receptor to bind to oligo(dT)-cellulose was noted at proestrus. The response elicited by the IUD was not considered to be due to an estrogenic response since the changes observed were not accompanied by a corresponding increase in the content of nuclear receptor.     

Pregnancy and estradiol decrease GTPase activity in the guinea pig uterine artery

The mechanisms by which pregnancy redistributes cardiac output in an organ-specific manner are poorly understood. We propose that it is consequential to estrogen-mediated alterations in G protein-mediated signal transduction. Aortas and uterine (UAs) and mesenteric arteries (MAs) were obtained from late-pregnant, nonpregnant, or ovariectomized guinea pigs chronically treated with 17beta-estradiol. High-affinity GTPase activity was assayed enzymatically. The cGMP generated in response to the endothelium-dependent agonist ACh was measured in UAs incubated with or without cholera toxin (CTX, which inhibits G(s)alpha). Pregnancy significantly decreased UA but not aorta or MA GTPase activity. 17beta-Estradiol decreased UA GTPase activity compared with untreated ovariectomized animals. ACh increased cGMP in pregnant but not nonpregnant UAs. Pretreatment of nonpregnant UAs with CTX increased ACh-induced cGMP levels similar to pregnancy. Thus pregnancy and estradiol decrease the GTPase activity of a CTX-sensitive G protein in UAs, increasing receptor-dependent cGMP release. This alteration in receptor-mediated G protein coupling in UAs may contribute to the characteristic cardiovascular adaptation to pregnancy.     

Estrogen-induced disruption of neonatal porcine uterine development alters adult uterine function

In the pig, estradiol-17beta valerate (EV) exposure from birth (Postnatal Day [PND] 0) disrupts estrogen receptor-alpha (ER)-dependent uterine development and increases embryo mortality in adults. To determine effects of neonatal EV exposure on adult uterine morphology and function, 36 gilts received corn oil (CO) or EV from PND 0 to PND 13. Cyclic and pregnant (PX) adults from each treatment group were hysterectomized on Day 12 after estrus/mating. Treatment and pregnancy effects were determined for uterine weight and horn volume, uterine luminal fluid (ULF) protein and estradiol content, endometrial incorporation of 3H-leucine (3H-Leu) into nondialyzable product, and endometrial mRNA levels for ER, progesterone receptor (PR), uteroferrin (UF), retinol-binding protein (RBP), and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF). Adults cycled normally and had similar numbers of corpora lutea. Uteri of PX gilts contained tubular/filamentous conceptuses, and ULF estradiol content was unaffected by treatment. However, pregnancy increased uterine weight and size only in CO gilts (Treatment x Status, P < 0.01). Treatment reduced ULF protein content (P < 0.01), endometrial 3H-Leu incorporation (P < 0.05), and the pregnancy-associated increase in ULF protein (Treatment x Status, P < 0.01). Treatment did not affect endometrial ER or PR mRNA levels but attenuated the pregnancy-associated increase in UF mRNA (Treatment x Status; P < 0.01), increased RBP (P < 0.10), and decreased KGF mRNA levels (P < 0.05). These results establish that transient postnatal estrogen exposure affects porcine uterine responsiveness to potentially embryotrophic signals and that estrogen-sensitive postnatal uterine organizational events are determinants of uterine size and functionality.     

Increased LH pulse frequency and estrogen secretion associated with termination of anestrus followed by enhancement of uterine estrogen receptor gene expression in the beagle bitch

The relationships among pulsatile LH secretion pattern, estrogen secretion, and expression of the uterine estrogen receptor gene were examined throughout the estrous cycle in beagle bitches. In Experiment 1, blood samples were collected from 30 bitches every 10 min for 8 h from a cephalic vein during different phases of the estrous cycle. An increase in the mean plasma levels of LH occurred from mid to late anestrus (P < 0.01). The LH pulse frequency increased (P < 0.01) from late anestrus to proestrus, and was strongly correlated (r = 0.96, P < 0.001) with the mean plasma level of estradiol-17 beta (E2). In Experiment 2, middle uterine samples, including the myometrium and endometrium, from 18 bitches were taken at 6 stages of the estrous cycle. The total number of estrogen receptors and nuclear estrogen receptor and its mRNA levels in the uterus also increased (P < 0.01) from late anestrus to proestrus. Mean plasma E2 level and the number of uterine estrogen receptor were positively correlated (r = 0.81, P < 0.05). In Experiment 3, nine bitches were ovariectomized in mid anestrus. Two weeks later they received a single injection of 10 or 50 micrograms/kg, i.m., estradiol benzoate. The number of uterine estrogen receptor and their mRNA levels for ovariectomized bitches were low, but increased (P < 0.05) after treatment with a low dose of estradiol benzoate. These results suggest that increases in LH pulse frequency and estrogen secretion are associated with termination of anestrus and that subsequent enhancement of uterine estrogen receptor expression may be up-regulated by estradiol.